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Executive director of the National Basketball Players Association (NBPA), Michele Roberts announced organisation's plans of examining the possibilities of expanding legalised sports betting in the USA.
According to the current federal law, Nevada is the only state in the US allowing players to place bets on sporting events.
Many different figures from the government, sports and gambling industry have addressed the US to re-consider its attitude to the sports betting and to consider a potential expansion of betting in the whole country.
Commissioner of North America's National Basketball Association, Adam Silver, is one of the top enthusiasts of this move and it is more than possible that NBPA will add its own support to his efforts.
In one of the interviews, Roberts stated that even though the NBPA does not have an official opinion on sports wagering in the USA and she has not contacted Silver on that issue, the organisation is ready to explore wider legalisation.
“Everyone has known for years that there is a ton of money being made that's not being enjoyed, frankly, by the people who are creating the games, both the owners and the players,” Roberts commented.
Roberts also stated that she knows about the negative aspects are connected with sports wagering, but she is open to look at ways that the NBA can benefit from such activities.
“If there's a way – and I haven't talked to Silver about this, either – to funnel what is otherwise income that should be enjoyed by the folks who are creating it, in a way that doesn't harm the game, then I frankly don't see any reason why we can't explore it,” Roberts said.
“I know all the negatives that up to today have kept gambling outside of the realm of what is appropriate in terms of sports.
“But let's not ignore the big elephant in the room. There's a lot of money being made.”
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